In what will be a precedent-setting move for the entire state, Minneapolis is scheduled to pass an illegal tax this Friday that blatantly violates the spirit of Minnesota’s taxpayer protection laws. If they succeed, there will be a domino effect and other cities will use the same playbook to impose higher taxes and institute corporate welfare without giving taxpayers a say in the matter.

It’s not supposed to be easy to raise taxes on the people of Minnesota. State law goes so far as to require a vote of the people before any new sales taxes can be passed. But Minneapolis is going out of its way to dodge similar accountability.

By calling their 5-cent grocery bag tax a “pass-through charge,” and funneling the money straight to corporate retailers instead of a public purpose, Minneapolis City Councilmembers think they can avoid triggering state taxpayer protections.

We cannot let this happen. That’s why we’ve put together a petition to alert Minnesota elected officials to what’s going on in Minneapolis and to urge them to stop this outrageous policy before taxpayer protections are eroded throughout our state.

Minneapolis does not need more taxes and government control. What our state needs is more accountability to taxpayers.